With the WSL returning this weekend for Manchester City and with them sitting level on points with Emma Hayes’ formidable Chelsea side, let us look back at their first and only WSL title success in 2016.
Gareth Taylor’s new look fresh, young, and talented Manchester City side is completely different from what it was back in 2016, but one thing that remains the same is the amount of English talent on show still to this day.
However, the 2016 season will always be truly memorable for so many City fans as it was the first and only time they won the WSL title.
They finished the season with a total of 42 points, five clear of runners-up Chelsea who ended on 37.
Nick Cushing was the manager and his squad was stacked with many hugely talented English players, including Lucy Bronze, Toni Duggan, Jill Scott, Steph Houghton, as well as a young Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway.
The full Man City Women’s squad list for the 2016 season can be found here.
The story of the invincibles…
Granted there were only nine teams in the WSL for the 2016 season, but City were invincible, out of the 16 games they played in the league, they lost zero, drew just three, and won 13.
They drew with Liverpool twice and the other time against Birmingham in their final game of the season. But, they did complete the league double over both Chelsea and Arsenal during the season which ultimately helped them most on their way to glory.
They were ruthless in front of goal as they scored 36 goals across the season and rock solid at the back as they only conceded four. Their top goalscorer was Scotland international Jane Ross (now at Rangers) with eight goals, former lioness Toni Duggan was the next one back with five.
The Sky Blues’ best result of the season came at home on the 2nd of May, where they beat Doncaster Rovers Belles (now of the national league) 6-0. The goals came from Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott, Jane Ross, Jen Beattie, Kosovare Asslani, and Toni Duggan.
Their best away result was against Notts County on July 24th (also now of the national league) where they won 5-1. Goals coming from Jane Ross x2, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway and, Izzy Christiansen.
Nick Cushing introduced us to England’s future stars
As mentioned, two notable players in the 2016 City squad were Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway. During this season they both were still just teenagers and both only made seven appearances in the WSL but proved to fans they would go on to be future club legends and stars for England.
Stanway at just 17 years of age, scored 4 goals in her seven appearances but went on to be a true legend at City for the next six seasons, scoring many great goals and grabbing quite a few assists before moving to Bayern Munich in 2022.
Walsh at just 19 years of age didn’t score in any of her appearances but similar to Stanway established herself as one of the best defensive midfielders to ever grace the WSL before moving to Barcelona in 2022 for a world-record transfer fee (at the time) of £350,000.
Some other England stars we saw rise from Nick Cushing’s 2016 title-winning side were Izzy Christiansen, Nikita Parris, and Ellie Roebuck.
Where are all the Manchester City players from the triumphant squad now?
Eight years have gone by since City’s only WSL title win so where are the key players now? Are they all still playing? Or have they moved on to something new?
- Karen Bardsley – Moved to America for a couple of seasons, but is now retired
- Lucy Bronze – Moved to Lyon for three seasons, then came back to City for two years before moving to Barcelona where she currently still plays.
- Demi Stokes – Is still at Manchester City
- Tessel Middag – Plays for Rangers
- Jen Beattie – Left City for Arsenal for five seasons and has recently moved to Bay FC Women in the USA.
- Steph Houghton – Is still at Manchester City but is retiring at the end of the season.
- Kosovare Asllani – Plays for AC Milan
- Jill Scott – Stayed at City for many years before eventually retiring at Aston Villa, regular pundit when England Women are playing.
- Toni Duggan – Moved to Barcelona and Athletico Madrid before returning to the WSL with Everton in 2021.
- Daphne Corboz – Plays for Paris FC
- Izzy Christiansen – Moved to Lyon after leaving City, then moved to Everton before retiring at the end of last season, regular pundit on Sky Sports.
- Georgia Stanway – Plays for Bayern Munich
- Jane Ross – Plays for Rangers
- Nikita Parris – Moved to Lyon before turning to the red side of Manchester with United where she is currently playing.
- Megan Campbell – Plays for London City Lionesses
- Abbie McManus – Moved from City to United, to Tottenham and then Leicester before retiring.
- Keira Walsh – Plays for Barcelona
- Ellie Roebuck – Still at City, but could be on the move in the summer, has been linked with Barcelona.
What a season the 2016 WSL one was, hope you enjoyed the little trip back down memory lane, be sure to let us know which other clubs/seasons you’d like to see a deep dive into in the future…